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circumstances less fraught with danger and excitement。 At the moment I
saw； and with unmixed wonder； only a score of wild savages charging
down upon us； where I had expected to find a community of civilized and
enlightened people。
Each of us was armed with rifle； revolver； and cutlass； but as we stood
shoulder to shoulder facing the wild men I was loath to give the command
to fire upon them； inflicting death or suffering upon strangers with whom
we had no quarrel； and so I attempted to restrain them for the moment that
we might parley with them。
To this end I raised my left hand above my head with the palm toward
them as the most natural gesture indicative of peaceful intentions which
occurred to me。 At the same time I called aloud to them that we were
friends； though； from their appearance； there was nothing to indicate that
they might understand Pan…American； or ancient English； which are of
course practically identical。
At my gesture and words they ceased their shouting and came to a halt
a few paces from us。 Then； in deep tones； one who was in advance of the
others and whom I took to be the chief or leader of the party replied in a
tongue which while intelligible to us； was so distorted from the English
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language from which it evidently had sprung； that it was with difficulty
that we interpreted it。
〃Who are you；〃 he asked； 〃and from what country？〃
I told him that we were from Pan…America； but he only shook his head
and asked where that was。 He had never heard of it； or of the Atlantic
Ocean which I told him separated his country from mine。
〃It has been two hundred years；〃 I told him； 〃since a Pan… American
visited England。〃
〃England？〃 he asked。 〃What is England？〃
〃Why this is a part of England！〃 I exclaimed。
〃This is Grubitten；〃 he assured me。 〃I know nothing about England；
and I have lived here all my life。〃
It was not until long after that the derivation of Grubitten occurred to
me。 Unquestionably it is a corruption of Great Britain； a name formerly
given to the large island comprising England； Scotland and Wales。
Subsequently we heard it pronounced Grabrittin and Grubritten。
I then asked the fellow if he could direct us to Ryde or Newport； but
again he shook his head； and said that he never had heard of such
countries。 And when I asked him if there were any cities in this country
he did not know what I meant； never having heard the word cities。
I explained my meaning as best I could by stating that by city I
referred to a place where many people lived together in houses。
〃Oh；〃 he exclaimed； 〃you mean a camp！ Yes； there are two great
camps here； East Camp and West Camp。 We are from East Camp。〃
The use of the word camp to describe a collection of habitations
naturally suggested war to me； and my next question was as to whether the
war was over； and who had been victorious。
〃No；〃 he replied to this question。 〃The war is not yet over。 But it
soon will be； and it will end； as it always does； with the Westenders
running away。 We； the Eastenders； are always victorious。〃
〃No；〃 I said； seeing that he referred to the petty tribal wars of his little
island； 〃I mean the Great War； the war with Germany。 Is it endedand
who was victorious？〃
He shook his head impatiently。
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〃I never heard；〃 he said； 〃of any of these strange countries of which
you speak。〃
It seemed incredible； and yet it was true。 These people living at the
very seat of the Great War knew nothing of it； though but two centuries
had passed since； to our knowledge； it had been running in the height of its
titanic frightfulness all about them； and to us upon the far side of the
Atlantic still was a subject of keen interest。
Here was a lifelong inhabitant of the Isle of Wight who never had
heard of either Germany or England！ I turned to him quite suddenly with
a new question。
〃What people live upon the mainland？〃 I asked； and pointed in the
direction of the Hants coast。
〃No one lives there；〃 he replied。
〃Long ago； it is said； my people dwelt across the waters upon that
other land； but the wild beasts devoured them in such numbers that finally
they were driven here； paddling across upon logs and driftwood； nor has
any dared return since； because of the frightful creatures which dwell in
that horrid country。〃
〃Do no other peoples ever come to your country in ships？〃 I asked。
He never heard the word ship before； and did not know its meaning。
But he assured me that until we came he had thought that there were no
other peoples in the world other than the Grubittens； who consist of the
Eastenders and the Westenders of the ancient Isle of Wight。
Assured that we were inclined to friendliness； our new acquaintances
led us to their village； or； as they call it； camp。 There we found a
thousand people； perhaps； dwelling in rude shelters； and living upon the
fruits of the chase and such sea food as is obtainable close to shore； for
they had no boats； nor any knowledge of such things。
Their weapons were most primitive； consisting of rude spears tipped
with pieces of metal pounded roughly into shape。 They had no literature；
no religion； and recognized no law other than the law of might。 They
produced fire by striking a bit of flint and steel together； but for the most
part they ate their food raw。 Marriage is unknown among them； and
while they have the word； mother； they did not know what I meant by
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〃father。〃 The males fight for the favor of the females。 They practice
infanticide； and kill the aged and physically unfit。
The family consists of the mother and the children； the men dwelling
sometimes in one hut and sometimes in another。 Owing to their bloody
duels； they are always numerically inferior to the women； so there is
shelter for them all。
We spent several hours in the village； where we were objects of the
greatest curiosity。 The inhabitants examined our clothing and all our
belongings； and asked innumerable questions concerning the strange
country from which we had come and the manner of our coming。
I questioned many of them concerning past historical events； but they
knew nothing beyond the narrow limits of their island and the savage；
primitive life they led there。 London they had never heard of； and they
assured me that I would find no human beings upon the mainland。
Much saddened by what I had seen； I took my departure from them；
and the three of us made our way back to the launch； accompanied by
about five hundred men； women； girls； and boys。
As we sailed away； after procuring the necessary ingredients of our
chemical fuel； the Grubittens lined the shore in silent wonder at the
strange sight of our dainty craft dancing over the sparkling waters； and
watched us until we were lost to their sight。
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4
It was during the morning of July 6； 2137； that we entered the mouth
of the Thamesto the best of my knowledge the first Western keel to cut
those historic waters for two hundred and twenty…one years！
But where were the tugs and the lighters and the barges； the lightships
and the buoys； and all those countless attributes which went to make up
the myriad life of the ancient Thames？
Gone！ All gone！ Only silence and desolation reigned where once
the commerce of the world had centered。
I